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I recently spoke to a group of physicians about frustrations with their practices. They complained how the insurance industry has taken their practices from a profession to a business. I realized each one of these physicians was under a great deal of emotional stress.
I don't know about you, but I don't want my physician to be under much stress, especially when treating me. I don't want my physician to think of me as simply another account to be rushed through the office. And I know my physician doesn't want to practice medicine that way either. Fast medicine, simply for speed’s sake, is dangerous medicine.
One of the physicians asked me what I thought the solution was. Without hesitation I told them that physicians must heal thy selves. They cannot control out there nor can they blame or justify why they find themselves in their current condition. Their only salvation is to take 100% responsibility for their condition and be determined to do something about it.
I asked them this question "What if all the doctors in United States decided to go on strike tomorrow saying we won't take this anymore? How long would it take for there to be immediate action in Congress and insurance company boardrooms?"
One problem is there are many physicians who love Big Medicine. They love playing medical entrepreneur. Many are getting rich doing so, whether ethically or otherwise.
Physicians and their lawyers will have to work around the insurance system. Concierge medical programs are one example but that option is limited to the well off. Canadian physicians have been working around the problem for many years with alternative service structures.
Or you can downsize your practice and lifestyle and live a simpler and saner existence where you are whole and can be fully engaged in providing real medical care. You may not make as much money but you can practice like the doctor you grew up wanting to be.